Device, system and method for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately tighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and a tapered portion

ABSTRACT

A system for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately tighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and tapered portion. The system including a device providing a hookspanner wrench having a lever arm and an engaging portion, the engaging portion of the hookspanner wrench configured to engage a bearing locking nut, the lever arm configured to mount a storage clamping device fixed thereto, a smartphone secured in place by the storage clamping device, and a specialized application stored on the smartphone that provides a built-in inclinometer and look up data tables. A method for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately tighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and tapered portion as well.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of measuring angle movementof a hookspanner wrench. The invention relates more particularly to thefield of measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench toaccurately tighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and taperedportion utilizing an application on a smartphone mounted to thehookspanner wrench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current technology for accomplishing the function of the presentinvention provides making an inaccurate manual angle marking on thehookspanner wrench and by making another inaccurate manual referencemark on the application/shaft. Then, turning the hookspanner wrench tountil the two manually referenced marks blindly match up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect, exemplary embodiments relate to a devicefor measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accuratelytighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and tapered portion.The device provides a hookspanner wrench having a lever arm and anengaging portion, the engaging portion configured to engage a bearinglocking nut, the lever arm configured to mount a storage clamping devicefixed thereto, a smartphone secured in place by the storage clampingdevice, and a specialized application or executable program stored onthe smartphone that provides a built-in inclinometer and look up datatables.

In a second aspect of the above exemplary embodiment the look up datatables display a correct bearing locking nut drive up angle based on abearing type inputted into the smartphone.

In a third aspect of the above exemplary embodiment when a force isapplied to an outer end of the lever arm and the hookspanner wrenchbegins to rotate the bearing locking nut, and wherein the inclinometerresponds in real time and displays an updated locking nut drive up angleposition.

In a further aspect of the above exemplary embodiment the application offorce applied to the lever arm is stopped when the correct mountingangle/drive up position is indicated as being obtained on theinclinometer.

In a further aspect of the above exemplary embodiment the storageclamping device provides an adjustment mechanism that enablesinstallation of the smartphone in both a horizontal and verticaldirection to facilitate different sized smartphones.

In a further aspect of the above exemplary embodiment one of an angle, anumber, and a color is displayed on the inclinometer to indicate themounting angle/drive up position obtained.

In a further aspect of the above exemplary embodiment a Full QwertyKeypad is provided for entering bearing type information that identifiesa correct locking nut drive up angle on at least one display of thecomputing device.

According to a second aspect, exemplary embodiments relate to a systemfor measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accuratelytighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and tapered portion.The system includes a device providing a hookspanner wrench having alever arm and an engaging portion, the engaging portion of thehookspanner wrench configured to engage a bearing locking nut, the leverarm configured to mount a storage clamping device fixed thereto, asmartphone secured in place by the storage clamping device, and aspecialized application stored on the smartphone that provides abuilt-in inclinometer and look up data tables, the bearing having aninner race and a tapered bore being mounted over an outer unthreadedportion of the tapered shaft, the bearing locking nut having a threadedinner portion and screwed onto a threaded portion of the tapered shaft,the bearing locking nut screwed onto the threaded portion of the taperedshaft until an inner side of the locking nut and an outer side of thebearing inner race contact each other, an interlocking arrangementproviding a meshing grip between the hookspanner wrench and the lockingnut, information regarding a type of bearing to be secured being enteredinto the smartphone, and wherein in response, a correct mountingangle/drive up position of the locking nut is displayed on the built-ininclinometer, a force F applied to the lever portion of the hookspannerwrench causes the hookspanner wrench to rotate while the mountingangle/drive up position is monitored against what is displayed on theinclinometer and wherein the application of force to the lever portionis stopped when the correct mounting angle/drive up position isindicated as being obtained on the inclinometer.

In a further aspect of the above exemplary embodiment the contactbetween an inner side of the locking nut and an outer side of thebearing inner race is a metal to metal contact.

According to a third aspect, exemplary embodiments relate a method ofmeasuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately securea bearing onto a shaft, the shaft having a threaded and tapered portion.The method includes sliding the bearing onto the tapered portion of theshaft, screwing a locking nut onto the threaded portion of the shaftuntil an inner side of the locking nut and an outer side of the bearinginner race contact each other, removing the locking nut off of theadapter sleeve with the hookspanner wrench, placing a spacer over thethreaded portion of the shaft and up against the bearing, placing a lockwasher over the threaded portion of the shaft and up against the spacer,attaching the hookspanner wrench onto the locking nut, providing amounting device for a portable computing device disposed on a leverportion of the hookspanner wrench, attaching the portable computingdevice onto the mounting device, the computing device having a softwareapplication that includes a built-in inclinometer, initializing thesoftware application that includes the built-in inclinometer, inputtingidentifying information into a display disposed on the computing deviceregarding a bearing type to be tightened, displaying a correct mountingangle/drive up position of the component on the built-in inclinometer,applying force to the lever portion and rotating the hookspanner wrenchwhile monitoring the mounting angle/drive up position against what isdisplayed on the inclinometer, and stopping the application of force tothe lever portion when the correct mounting angle/drive up position isindicated as being obtained on the inclinometer,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention and its advantages will be better understood bystudying the detailed description of specific embodiments given by wayof non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings onwhich:

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of a system for measuring angleadjustment of a hookspanner wrench according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevated perspective view of a device according to thesystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevated perspective view of a locking nut, bearing andmounting shaft according to the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the locking nut, shaft and bearingaccording to the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of a system that includes adevice, locking nut, mounting shaft and bearing shown disposed on atapered portion of the shaft according to the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the locking nut and bearing beinginstalled onto the shaft according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the locking nut, lock washer,spacer, and bearing being installed onto the shaft according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an elevated perspective view of the locking nut, lock washer,spacer, and bearing being installed onto the shaft according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the locking nut, lock washer,spacer, and bearing installed onto the shaft according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 10 is an elevated perspective view of the system for measuringangle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench with the bearing, spacer, lockwasher and locking nut in the process of being secured according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are plan views of the various options fordisplaying the inclinometer application on a portable computing deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the system for measuring angle adjustmentof a hookspanner wrench showing the inclinometer application running inreal time on the portable computing device according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 13 is a further side plan view of the system for measuring angleadjustment of a hookspanner wrench showing the inclinometer applicationrunning in real time and showing that a stop position has been reachedaccording to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 14A-14B show the method steps for carrying out the function of thesystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable personsskilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure andare not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is definedby the claims.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “inward,” “outward,”“upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,”“horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention asoriented in FIG. 1. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound byany expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technicalfield, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processesillustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the followingspecification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventiveconcepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expresslystate otherwise.

System and Device

There is shown in FIG. 1 a system 100 for measuring angle adjustment ofa hookspanner wrench 10 to accurately tighten a bearing 20 onto a shaft30. The shaft 30 may provide a threaded portion 40 and a tapered portion47. The threaded portion 40 includes a slot 49, the purpose of whichwill be disclosed later in this description. The system 100 furtherprovides a locking nut 50 that is to be tightened by the hookspannerwrench 10.

Now referring to FIGS. 1-2, the system 100 may also provide a device110. The device 110 by itself, is illustrated in FIG. 2. The device 110provides the hookspanner wrench 10, which includes a lever arm 15 and anengaging portion 17. The engaging portion 17 of the hookspanner wrench10 is configured to engage at least four indentations 52 disposed on anouter surface of the bearing locking nut 50. The engaging portion 17includes a projection 19 that interlocks with one of the at least fourindentations 52. As such, this interlocking arrangement provides alatching grip between the hookspanner wrench 10 and the locking nut 50.

The lever arm 15 is configured to mount a storage clamping device 60fixed thereto. A portable communications device or smartphone 70 issecured in place by the storage clamping device 60. The storage clampingdevice 60 provides a sliding adjustment mechanism. The slidingadjustment mechanism enables installation of the smartphone in both ahorizontal and vertical direction (as depicted by the arrows) tofacilitate different sized smartphones.

An Application (App) 72 or Mobile application software 72 that isdesigned to run on smartphones and other mobile devices is stored in amemory 932 (See FIG. 11) of the smartphone 70. The smartphone may alsoprovide a microprocessor 932 that works together with the memory 930 inorder carry out the functions of the App. Most importantly to thepresent invention, the App 72 provides a built-in inclinometer 90 andlook up data tables 74 that are shown on a display 77 (See FIGS. 14A,14B and 14C). The look up data tables 74 display a correct bearing tolocking nut drive up angle based on a bearing type that is inputted intothe smartphone.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the bearing 20 has an inner race 21 thatincludes a tapered bore 22. During assembly, the tapered bore 22 of thebearing 20 is gently slid up over the threaded portion 40 of the shaft30 and rests on the tapered portion 47 of the shaft 30. The bearinglocking nut 50 has a threaded inner portion 54. The threaded innerportion 54 of the locking nut 50 mates with the threaded portion 40 ofthe shaft 30.

The bearing locking nut 50 is screwed onto the threaded portion 40 ofthe shaft 30 until an inner side 56 of the locking nut 50 and an outerside of the bearing inner race 24 contact each other. The locking nut 50is “hand tightened” until the inner side 56 of the locking nut 56 andouter side of the bearing inner race just begin to make contact and onlya very light force is created driving up against the bearing. Inaddition, depending on the materials of construction, the contactbetween the inner side 56 of the locking nut 50 and the outer side ofthe bearing inner race 24 may provide a metal to metal contact.

Once the inner side 56 of the locking nut 50 is hand tightened upagainst the outer side of bearing inner race 24 the location of thebearing 20 on the tapered portion 47 of the shaft 30 is initially set.The assembly can be seen in the cross-section illustrated in FIG. 6.

At this point, the locking nut 50 is now removed so that a spacer 92 anda lock washer 82 can be inserted onto the shaft and gently pressed upagainst the inner race 24 of the bearing 20. See FIGS. 6-9. A tab 84 ofthe lock washer 82 that projects radially inward engages the recessedslot 49 of the threaded portion 40 of the shaft. This engagementprevents the lock washer from spinning and functions to secure thelocking nut to the lock washer when tightened. Now that the spacer andlock washer are installed, the locking nut is manually screwed onto thethreaded portion of the shaft. Once again, the locking nut 50 is “handtightened” until the inner side 56 of the locking nut 56 and outer sideof the bearing inner race just begin to make contact and only a verylight force between the two is created driving up against the bearing.

Now that the bearing with the tapered inner race is initially set ontothe tapered portion of the shaft and the spacer, lock washer and lockingnut are hand tightened in place, the device 110 for accurately securingthe bearing onto the shaft as shown in FIG. 10 is ready to be utilized.

Now referring to FIGS. 10-13, there is shown a Full Qwerty Keypad FQKfor entering bearing type information. The bearing type informationidentifies a correct locking nut drive up angle 90. The correct lockingnut drive up angle 90 is shown on the display 77 of the computing device70. See specifically FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C. The look up data tables 74display a correct bearing to locking nut drive up angle based on abearing type that is inputted into the smartphone. In response, acorrect mounting angle/drive up position of the locking nut 50 isdisplayed on the built-in inclinometer 90.

When a force F is applied to the lever portion 15 of the hookspannerwrench, the force causes the hookspanner wrench to rotate . When theforce F is applied to an outer end of the lever arm the hookspannerwrench begins to rotate the bearing locking nut. As the wrench begins torotate, the inclinometer responds in real time and displays an updatedlocking nut drive up angle position in a clockwise fashion. Accordingly,while rotating the mounting angle/drive up position is monitored againstwhat is displayed on the inclinometer 90. The application of force F tothe lever portion is stopped when the correct mounting angle/drive upposition is indicated as being obtained on the inclinometer.

The correct mounting angle/drive up position can be indicated inmultiple ways. First, a graph of the drive up angle can be displayed asillustrated in FIG. 11B. Here, an initial Start point is indicated andas the spanner wrench is rotated, the Current angle a changes. The driveup angle is reached when the arrow indicates the Goal is reached.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 11C, the Start or Current angle maybe displayed in an upper portion 92 of the inclinometer 90 and the Goalangle may be displayed in a lower portion 94 of the inclinometer 90.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 12-13, the Start or Current anglemay be displayed as a vertical arrow extending upwards on the display ofthe inclinometer. Here, a color is displayed on the inclinometer 90 toindicate the present mounting angle/drive up position. For example, thesection on the inclinometer that is colored Green may indicate “continuerotating the hookspanner wrench”. The Yellow section may indicate “youare getting close to the desired drive up angle Goal” and the Redsection may indicate the Goal has been obtained”. As such, the verticalarrow stays extending upwards and the sections of color move towards theGoal as the spanner wrench is rotated.

Method

A method 200 of measuring angle adjustment of the hookspanner wrench toaccurately secure the bearing onto the shaft, the shaft having taperedand threaded portions will now be disclosed.

In a first step 210 the method includes sliding the bearing onto thetapered portion of the shaft. Here, the bearing is gently slid up ontothe tapered portion of the shaft. This opposed to being rammed in place.

In a second step 220 the method comprises screwing a locking nut ontothe threaded portion of the shaft. The locking nut is screwed onto thethreaded portion of the shaft until the inner side of the locking nutand the outer side of the bearing inner race begin to contact eachother.

In a next step 230 the method provides removing the locking nut off ofthe threaded portion. This is done in anticipation of s next step 240that provides placing the spacer over the threaded portion of the shaftand up against the bearing. In addition, the method provides placing thelock washer over the threaded portion of the shaft and up against thespacer in a step 250.

In a following step 260 the method provides attaching the hookspannerwrench onto the locking nut. As previously disclosed, the engagingportion of the hookspanner wrench is configured to engage the at leastfour indentations disposed on the outer surface of the bearing lockingnut. The engaging portion includes a projection that interlocks with oneof the at least four indentations. As such, this interlockingarrangement provides a latching grip between the hookspanner wrench andthe locking nut.

The method then includes a step 270 of providing the mounting device forthe portable computing device, the mounting device being disposed on thelever portion of the hookspanner wrench.

The method then calls for a step 280 of attaching the portable computingdevice onto the mounting device, the computing device having a softwareapplication that includes a built-in inclinometer.

The method further includes a step 290 of initializing the softwareapplication that includes the built-in inclinometer.

Inputting identifying information into a display disposed on thecomputing device regarding a bearing type to be tightened is carried outin a step 300.

The method entails a step 310 of displaying a correct mountingangle/drive up position of the component on the built-in inclinometer.

The method includes a step 320 of applying force F to the lever portionand rotating the hookspanner wrench while simultaneously monitoring themounting angle/drive up position displayed on the inclinometer.

Finally, the method provides a step 330 of stopping the application offorce F to the lever portion when the correct mounting angle/drive upposition is indicated as being obtained on the inclinometer. As such,when the correct mounting angle/drive up position is shown on thedisplay, the method is completed and the force is stopped.

Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiments and methods of the invention, itis intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown inthe accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalence.

1. A device for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench toaccurately tighten a bearing onto a shaft having a threaded and taperedportion, the device comprising; a hookspanner wrench having a lever armand an engaging portion, the engaging portion configured to engage abearing locking nut, the lever arm configured to mount a storageclamping device fixed thereto, a smartphone secured in place by thestorage clamping device, and a specialized application stored on thesmartphone that provides a built-in inclinometer and look up datatables.
 2. The device for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspannerwrench according to claim 1, wherein the look up data tables display acorrect bearing locking nut drive up angle based on a bearing typeinputted into the smartphone.
 3. The device for measuring angleadjustment of a hookspanner wrench according to claim 2, wherein when aforce is applied to an outer end of the lever arm and the hookspannerwrench begins to rotate the bearing locking nut, and wherein theinclinometer responds in real time and displays an updated locking nutdrive up angle position.
 4. The device for measuring angle adjustment ofa hookspanner wrench according to claim 3, wherein the application offorce applied to the lever arm is stopped when the correct mountingangle/drive up position is indicated as being obtained on theinclinometer.
 5. The device for measuring angle adjustment of ahookspanner wrench according to claim 1, wherein the storage clampingdevice provides an adjustment mechanism that enables installation of thesmartphone in both a horizontal and vertical direction to facilitatedifferent sized smartphones.
 6. The device for measuring angleadjustment of a hookspanner wrench according to claim 1, wherein one ofan angle, a number, and a color is displayed on the inclinometer toindicate the mounting angle/drive up position has been obtained.
 7. Thedevice for measuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench accordingto claim 1, further comprises a Full Qwerty Keypad for entering bearingtype information that identifies a correct locking nut drive up angle onat least one display of the computing device.
 8. A system for measuringangle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately tighten a bearingonto a shaft having a threaded and tapered portion, the systemcomprising: a device providing a hookspanner wrench having a lever armand an engaging portion, the engaging portion of the hookspanner wrenchconfigured to engage a bearing locking nut, the lever arm configured tomount a storage clamping device fixed thereto, a smartphone secured inplace by the storage clamping device, and a specialized applicationstored on the smartphone that provides a built-in inclinometer and lookup data tables, the bearing having an inner race and a tapered borebeing mounted over an outer unthreaded portion of the shaft, the bearinglocking nut having a threaded inner portion and screwed onto a threadedportion of the shaft, the bearing locking nut screwed onto the threadedportion of the shaft until an inner side of the locking nut and an outerside of the bearing inner race contact each other, an interlockingarrangement providing a meshing grip between the hookspanner wrench andthe locking nut, information regarding a type of bearing to be securedbeing entered into the smartphone, and wherein in response, a correctmounting angle/drive up position of the lock nut is displayed on thebuilt-in inclinometer, a force F applied to the lever portion of thehookspanner wrench causes the hookspanner wrench to rotate while themounting angle/drive up position is monitored against what is displayedon the inclinometer and wherein the application of force to the leverportion is stopped when the correct mounting angle/drive up position isindicated as being obtained on the inclinometer.
 9. The system formeasuring angle adjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately securea bearing onto a shaft according to claim 8, wherein the contact betweenan inner side of the locking nut and an outer side of the bearing innerrace is a metal to metal contact.
 10. A method of measuring angleadjustment of a hookspanner wrench to accurately secure a bearing onto ashaft, the shaft having a threaded and tapered portion, the methodcomprising: sliding the bearing onto the tapered portion of the shaft,screwing a lock nut onto the threaded portion of the shaft until aninner side of the locking nut and an outer side of the bearing innerrace contact each other, removing the locking nut off of the threadedportion, placing a spacer over the threaded portion of the shaft and upagainst the bearing, placing a lock washer over the threaded portion ofthe shaft and up against the spacer, attaching the hookspanner wrenchonto the locking nut, providing a mounting device for a portablecomputing device disposed on a lever portion of the hookspanner wrench,attaching the portable computing device onto the mounting device, thecomputing device having a software application that includes a built-ininclinometer, initializing the software application that includes thebuilt-in inclinometer, inputting identifying information into a displaydisposed on the computing device regarding a bearing type to betightened, displaying a correct mounting angle/drive up position of thecomponent on the built-in inclinometer, applying force to the leverportion and rotating the hookspanner wrench while while simultaneouslymonitoring the mounting angle/drive up position displayed on theinclinometer, and stopping the application of force to the lever portionwhen the correct mounting angle/drive up position is indicated as beingobtained on the inclinometer.